AJAYA Part 1 (Hindi) [Paperback] [May 30, 2015] Anand Neelakantan

The Mahabharata has been portrayed as a great epic. But while Vijaya is the story of the Pandavas, presented from the perspective of the victors of Kurukshetra; Ajeya is the story of the unconquered Kauravas, who were almost completely destroyed. A revolution is brewing in Indias most powerful empire. Bhishma, the revered patriarch of Hastinapur, struggles to maintain the unity of his kingdom. On the throne sits the blind Emperor Dhritarashtra and his foreign-born wife, Gandhari. Near this throne stands the widowed Queen Mother Kunti, harboring a burning ambition to see her firstborn son ascend the throne and seeking public recognition for this claim. And somewhere in the vicinity of all this: Parashurama, the mysterious guru of the powerful southern region, is constantly striving to establish his dominance from the mountains to the sea. Ekalavya, a young Nishada, yearns to break free from the shackles of caste and become a warrior. Karna, the son of a humble charioteer, journeys south to learn from the most renowned guru and become the greatest archer the world has ever known. Balarama, the charismatic leader of the Yadavas, desires to build an ideal city by the sea and see his people prosper and regain their lost glory. Takshaka, the guerrilla leader of the Nagas, has launched a revolution with the weak and oppressed and awaits an opportune moment, hiding in the dense forests of India, where survival is the only religion. The mendicant Jara and his blind dog, Dharma, wander the dusty roads of India, witnessing events and people far greater than themselves, as the Kauravas and Pandavas confront their respective destinies. Amidst this utter chaos, Prince Subodhan of Hastinapur stands tall, determined to claim his birthright. He will follow his conscience and make his decisions. He is the architect of his own destiny, or so he believes. Meanwhile, in the courtyards of Hastinapurs palace, a foreign prince is plotting to destroy India. And the dice are cast...